Swedish far-right party calls for withdrawal of grants for immigrants who fail to assimilate

LONDON  The far-right anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats party said Sunday that it wants to spend 25 billion Swedish kronor ($2.3 billion) on strengthening the justice system and withdraw grants for immigrants who do not adopt the country’s culture. The party’s leader, Jimmie Åkesson, called it “a classic assimilation policy" and said he envisions the construction of special "Sweden centers" in marginalized areas. “There you can let the Swedish way of being and Swedish heritage become very accessible in a part of the country where it is currently very inaccessible,” he said. Åkesson was speaking to the media while visiting the party’s stronghold of Ånge municipality. The Sweden Democrats, once barred from politics due to their neo-Nazi ties, are currently Sweden’s third-largest party. They have surged in opinion polls ahead of elections due next month and are now on the way to becoming the country’s second largest party. According to recent polls, they took over second place from the country’s traditional right-wing Moderate Party and are now the main competitors to the ruling Social Democrats and Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who is currently leading a minority government. In an interview with Swedish Radio, Åkesson refused to say whether he would request to be prime minister if his party ends up at the top of the polls. “I don’t think I should have to sit and draw any red lines about what the government should look like at the moment. We’ll have to decide that after the elections. If I had my way, I’d be in a majority government, but I don’t get to do that on my own,” he said. In this year’s election campaigning, all Swedish political parties pledged tougher stances on immigration, crime and integration, which are the core issues for the Sweden Democrats. Sweden will hold legislative elections on Sept. 11. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

#Swedish #farright #party #calls #withdrawal #grants #immigrants #fail #assimilate https://www.globalcourant.com/swedish-far-right-party-calls-for-withdrawal-of-grants-for-immigrants-who-fail-to-assimilate/?feed_id=17183&_unique_id=630c16222cad4

Sweden far-right party calls to end aid for immigrants who fail to fit in

Sweden Democrats party have surged in opinion polls ahead of elections due next month.

Once barred from politics due to their neo-Nazi ties, the Sweden Democrats are currently Sweden’s third-largest party, bolstered by a rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the public. (Andres Kudacki / AP)

Anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats party has said it wants to spend $2.3 billion on strengthening the justice system and withdraw grants for immigrants who do not adopt the country’s culture. The party’s leader, Jimmie Akesson, called it “a classic assimilation policy" and said he envisions the construction of special "Sweden centres" in marginalised areas. “There you can let the Swedish way of being and Swedish heritage become very accessible in a part of the country where it is currently very inaccessible,” he said. Akesson was speaking to the media while visiting the party’s stronghold of Ange municipality. Once barred from politics due to their neo-Nazi ties, the Sweden Democrats are currently Sweden’s third-largest party. They have surged in opinion polls ahead of elections due next month. READ MORE: Clashes erupt again over anti-Muslim rally in Sweden

Far-Right, Anti-Immigrant SD is now the second-largest
party in Sweden. The election is only 19 days away. pic.twitter.com/ntkyXP6Nqd

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) August 23, 2022

Growing support for anti-immigration policies The party has the second-largest share of voter support ahead of the September 11 vote, trailing the ruling Social Democrats, which have dominated Swedish post-war politics. The Sweden Democrats polled between 20 and 23 percent in three different surveys published this week, overtaking the conservative Moderate party in the close race. Candidates have been vying for support among voters who say that crime is a top concern, followed by immigration and segregation issues. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson's Social Democrats enjoyed a lead with around 30 percent of voter support, according to the polls. Her party, long defenders of the country's cherished welfare state, has in recent years curbed immigration and campaigned on tackling gang-related crime. The conservative Moderate party, traditionally the second most popular party, came in third with between 16 and 18 percent of voter support. Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson is challenging Andersson for the post of prime minister. Sweden has struggled to contain deadly shootings and bombings that have soared in recent years, many linked to gang rivalries or organised criminals battling over the drug market. The far-right Sweden Democrats have been shunned since entering parliament in 2010 but with violence and crime dominating voters' concerns, the right-wing bloc, made up of the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals, is now ready to cooperate with the Sweden Democrats to wrest power from the Social Democrats. The Social Democrats are meanwhile relying on support from the Left, Centre and Green parties, with the two blocs neck-and-neck in the polls.

Far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats in Sundbyberg district of Stockholm running ad demanding bridge connecting their district to Rinkeby be demolished. Why? Rinkeby is a poorer district w/large immigrant community. Hard to imagine more open example of forced segregation. pic.twitter.com/q52Xbf6G8C

— Christian Christensen (@ChrChristensen) August 23, 2022

Akesson for PM? In an interview with Swedish Radio, Akesson refused to say whether he would request to be prime minister if his party ends up at the top of the polls. “I don’t think I should have to sit and draw any red lines about what the government should look like at the moment. We’ll have to decide that after the elections. If I had my way, I’d be in a majority government, but I don’t get to do that on my own,” he said. In this year’s election campaigning, all Swedish political parties pledged tougher stances on immigration, crime and integration, which are the core issues for the Sweden Democrats. READ MORE: Why do Sweden’s authorities stand accused of kidnapping Muslim children?

Something that's not talked about much is that young men in Sweden are OVERWHELMINGLY right-wing. About 60% would vote for the conservative and nationalist parties.

It only drops to 52% in the next age category. https://t.co/PQJ4Iqph0l

— Loukas Christodoulou (@Loukas_doula) August 20, 2022

Source: AA

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45 killed in armed attacks on streets of Sweden this year

STOCKHOLM 

Contrary to its reputation as being one of the most peaceful countries in the world, Sweden saw over 250 armed attacks this year, resulting in the killing of at least 45 people, police data shows.

A total of 251 armed attacks were carried out in the first eight months of 2022, in which at least 45 people were killed and 67 injured.

Organized crime has risen in the Scandinavian country over the last few years.

According to the record, in 2019 a total of 360 shootings took place, in which 45 people were killed and 126 others wounded. This figure increased to 379 – 47 people lost lives and 126 wounded – in 2020.

Sweden faced the same problem in 2021 and crime syndicates carried out 344 armed attacks, killing 45 and wounding 115 others.

On June 2, right-wing parties in the Swedish parliament – Riksdag – tabled a no-confidence motion against Justice and Interior Minister Morgan Johansson due to the "inability to prevent the increasing armed conflicts of crime syndicates and gangs in recent years."

In response, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said she would step down if the minister was ousted.

The opposition parties, however, failed to gather majority backing for the motion against Johansson.

Last June, Gothenburg police's Ulf Bostrom sounded the alarm that the problem is gigantic, and that even the police were unable to protect the victims.

As parties in Sweden prepare for the upcoming elections scheduled for next month, the fight against criminal gangs has topped the agenda.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.

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Senate votes to support Finland and Sweden joining NATO

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Wednesday evening to support Finland and Sweden in joining NATO -- a crucial step in the quest of the two countries to join the 30-member alliance.

The Senate voted 95-1, with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley voting no and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voting "present."

The vote comes several weeks after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved admitting Finland and Sweden into NATO. Lawmakers were working to approve the matter before their August break.

Finland and Sweden announced their decision to formally join NATO within days of each other in May, ending long-held positions of neutrality in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They simultaneously submitted their applications on May 18.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, flanked by Paivi Nevala, minister counselor of the Finnish Embassy, left, and Karin Olofsdotter, Sweden's ambassador to the U.S., welcomes diplomats from Sweden and Finland just before the Senate vote to ratify NATO membership for the two nations in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the Capitol in Washington, Aug. 3, 2022.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

All 30 NATO members must ratify the accession of the two countries. Seven countries remain.

During Wednesday's vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took a veiled swipe at Paul and Hawley in a floor speech, saying, "Their accession will make NATO stronger and America more secure. If any senator is looking for a defensible excuse to vote no, I wish them good luck."

Hawley aligned himself with former President Donald Trump, saying the U.S. could devote more funds and firepower to NATO "or do what we need to do to deter Asia and China. We cannot do both."

Paul has always worked to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts. He offered an amendment that most rejected seeking to ensure that Congress' role in authorizing military force would not be usurped by the NATO pact's common defense commitment, known as Article 5.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer poses for a photo with an official delegation from Finland and Sweden in his office in Washington, Aug. 3, 2022.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., applauded the Senate's vote, saying on Twitter that it is "all the more urgent given [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's barbaric, immoral and unjustified war in Ukraine."

President Joe Biden thanked a number of senators, including Schumer and McConnell, for moving the ratification process along quickly.

"This historic vote sends an important signal of the sustained, bipartisan U.S. commitment to NATO, and to ensuring our Alliance is prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow," the president said in a statement.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/senate-votes-to-support-finland-and-sweden-joining-nato/?feed_id=6329&_unique_id=62eb3d967b0ce

US Senate ratifies Sweden, Finland’s membership in NATO

Republican Josh Hawley only senator to oppose Nordic countries' NATO bids
Source https://www.globalcourant.com/us-senate-ratifies-sweden-finlands-membership-in-nato/?feed_id=6266&_unique_id=62eb121b8b1e6